Targets for therapy of the painful bladder.

Interstitial cystitis is an elusive disorder. Without a defining etiology and distinctive pathophysiology, diagnosis is made on an exclusionary basis. Treatment strategies for the disease vary, as do estimates of its prevalence. Nevertheless, advances are being made in understanding this disease. Basic research is helping to define rational treatment approaches for interstitial cystitis, and new therapies based on the findings of such research are being developed. This article reviews the theories of the etiology of interstitial cystitis and reviews the evidence for clinical effectiveness of various treatments.